Anyone can make jewelry, you don't have to go to school. For the cleverest designs, you just have to think outside the box!

June 10, 2016

I'm playing around here today at making a new photo station in my studio. I decided I would like to have one to photo jewelry that I have made, one that is permanently set up down there in the workshop. At the same time it has to be something that's not in my way, taking my creative space.

I have a nice mannequin, just a half body to the waist, that I picked up when a store went out of business. Fits on my counter just right, and it's fun to dress up. And it swivels, too!

Right down on that far end of my big central worktable....on the left, just out of the photo. She fits just fine. And she stays there.

Not in the way of our video set up, or my work stations!

I got the mannequin a pretty top that fits just right but won't compete with the jewelry. You can see it in the first photo. The white folding screen is just inexpensive foam board, a tri-fold I picked up at Walmart for maybe 5.00 or so.

When I am not doing a photo shoot, I can just take that down , fold it up and slide it into a clean, safe place under my big worktable. Out of the way and takes just a second!

I have these funky 'balloon' lights that can be twisted and positioned, and they are on a pole. Easily moved around, and they provide far more light than my photos here show:

They cost 19.99 at Home Depot . I can put them on a stool or a box to direct light down or up, and I can position them at will. When I am not using them, they go back against the wall out of my way. I have continuous electric strip around my L shaped workspace just behind me, so I can plug it in anywhere. Easy access to a plug with that strip!

Above, I have stepped the folding foam board screen down to a narrow table I recently purchased. It is narrow, and sits right in front of the table. It takes up very little room and doesn't interfere with anything.

Certainly there are any number of tricks I will learn as I play around with it.

One thing I already know is when I use the wooden table, I will be using white paper backgrounds or muted scrapbook sheets that enhance the jewelry and won't compete with it. I have a great start here, but the white paper will provide light and make the details of the piece much sharper and stand-out.

Photography buffs will be far fussier with their set up than I and will have a lot of advanced tricks to avoid shadows, etc. There are some amazing cameras and all sorts of equipment you can buy to make your photos band-box perfect. I envy those who know how to work that sort of equipment!

My problem is I don't have the money to buy that gear....and what's worse, I'm not tech-y. Having to sit and read and watch videos and work out all the bugs with new equipment saps my time and strength. I usually get pretty fussed up with those things. I want to make jewelry and be productive in my workshop, and spend minimal needed time on cameras and computers.

I'm more of a you-figure-it-out and then, you-show-me person!

In the long run, what a gal like me needs! is a photo that will work sufficiently to sell a product. Good, clear, all the details in view. Get the picture, load it to the computer, do a little adjusting with my simple Photoshop skills and voila!

Ready to go! This whole set up cost me:

1. 20.00 for the mannequin at the going out of biz sale at Fashion Bug

2. two of the balloon lights, about 40.00 total, and enough lightbulbs to fill them, about 10.00 from the Dollar Store

3. foam board at Walmart 5.00

4. top for the mannequin at Marshall's, 10.00

Then my little Nikon camera, and good to go!

The version of Photoshop that I have is rudimentary, but has all the tools I really need. And it was FREE! My tech team loaded it to my office computer when they set it up. Thank goodness, I didn't have to. They set it up for me, and Javi tweaked it.

If I want to do more photo editing, I will go to http://www.picmonkey.com and use the tools in my pnline account. That's fast and easy, too!

This will work out just fine, and I will find new tricks as I go along.

April 17, 2016

You know, the last year I had my shop, I asked myself that DAILY. It became more and more apparent that while I had done all I could to make my shop space in the front of our building appealing....the location just STUNK!

And what a shame, too, as the shop itself was like a doll's house.

I loved it. But I didn't love that nobody came. I didn't love that it became more and more apparent that our jewelry was just not entirely right for our area. And, to be honest, I had to come to terms with the fact that my business is, and probably always will be, more effective on the internet at this point in my life. The shop was a distraction and money I didn't need to spend.

SO....we quit that "show".....and we came home.

Big diff, right? Do I miss my cute little shop. YOU BETCHA. Am I upset about the three years of head-banging I put into it?

NOPE.

I LEARNED SO MUCH! I learned right way/wrong way, how to merchandise product, how to juggle time better than I previously had. I truly could have learned it no other way.

It's all good. We were happy there....

And we are happier, here! What I NEED to grow is a great place to work. I don't need to worry about spilling stuff on the floors in a rented building anymore, and I have three times the working space I used to have.

But I had to learn that by DOING. Everyone has a dream they just HAVE to try. I am so glad I tried it!

Some of us have had brick and mortar shops in the past, and we no longer do. Each has their own reason for quitting that sort of business.

Others still find it a great experience. They possibly have just the right location or more money to spend in the area where they sell.

Yet that could someday change. For that reason, I believe it's best to be diversified, to sell across a number of platforms...really as many as you are able to manage and still do a good job.

Some say that shows are dying. I don't believe that at all. Some say that jewelry has fallen out of favor. I don't believe that either. Why don't I believe that, when folks are reporting slow shows and others are not selling as much jewelry?

I don't believe it because people wear jewelry. They DO wear it differently from area to area, they DO wear different styles. What's a favorite gift? WHY, it's JEWELRY!

I don't believe all shows are bad because I did many shows for many years, back in my earlier days. If I didn't have some health issues that make doing shows a bit rought, I would still look for a few to do every year. It's one of the best ways to see what people like in your area, to do some invaluable local networking, and to get that immediate rapport with folks. I LOVED to visit and joke with people at shows. I miss that! And I did well at shows...

BUT. Not all of them. I remember one show where we had actually been invited to have a very special spot at a county fair. They gave us a sheltered spot on the porch of a historical building on the fairgrounds. Alot of people passed by it and came inside the historical building. We couldn't help but have traffic! And it was so nice not to have to lug a tent with us.

We came to the show and the promoter was so helpful! Early in the morning we set up and then waited for people to arrive....and they did. MANY people.

Schoolchildren on buses coming to see the historical building for a class project, and Amish folks.

It was a three day show and we made 200.00. Disappointing! But interestingly, the sales we did make were for our more expensive, more showy things. Just the right people for that merchandise found us. And from that, I met some folks that invited me to come and do a lecture on handmade jewelry, which was a paying gig, and do a trunk show for a women's group at a country club nearby.

And from there, even more opportunities.

Another I often mention is the 25.00 high school table top show we did that didn't even bring the table rent back to us. All they did was come to buy the home made candy and cookies. What a waste of time, right?

Turns out the lady right across from me sold clothing and purses, some handmade, some not. (It wasn't a juried show, but that's another subject.....)

As the show was winding up, she cut across the aisle and approached me. She said, "You know, I think I would do better with my stuff if I had a nice line of handmade jewelry to go with it. I LOVE your jewelry! I do mostly trunk shows and home parties and I have quite a few booked. What do you say you let me take some of this jewelry JUST THIS NEXT WEEK.....and see what happens? "

I had no reason not to think it would be okay. Plus I am one to take a leap of faith, anyway. I didn't expect much but I said, sure, let's do it!

Only a few days later she called me on the phone and said, "You will NOT believe this. I have sold almost all that jewelry and I have a big check for you! Can you meet me somewhere? I'll give you the check and you can bring me more jewelry."

OHMIGOODNESS. Was that for real? Hmmm I thought....it's a CHECK. What if it bounces?

Oh well, time for another leap of faith. I met her, took the check...actually it was part check and part CASH....and gave her more jewelry. The jewelry again was promptly sold.

Over the next three years I made a lot of money working with this lady, until the whole thing had run its course and needed to be re-invented. By that time I was actively wholesaling and doing something else, so there wasn't any need to.

But see what I mean? NO BAD SHOWS.

When you do a show, it's another opportunity to set up your display, another opportunity to meet others who do shows in your area and network, a chance to show off what you do and pass out business cards. Often you can get some custom work as a result of the show. If you have an Etsy or other online presence, be SURE you let people know where to find you later if you are not doing another show in the area soon. Maybe it's just a bad day for people to buy. Another day will be a good day!

Look for the opportunities and keep working hard on each platform you choose. There are things to learn every day....and with every show or selling experience.

March 31, 2016

After three months of diligent work, the members of the Build-a-Line Master Class are finally ready to share the lines they have created with the world! Not only that, doubtless many have reached some conclusions about where they are going and what they will do, going forward.

Some have found they are quite content where they are, enjoying jewelry making as a hobby and perhaps selling a bit of work here and there to help defray costs. This class has helped them to understand what is really required to build and sustain a line of jewelry that sells well, and it might be more work than they wish or need to do. There's nothing wrong with being a hobbyist; honestly, I think that's a wonderful place to be.

For these ones, the class helped them to understand the arduous process, make a decision, and at the same time, how better to pull their work as artists together.

Others are ready to go to the next level....really diving into jewelry making, being ready for shows, home parties, and consignment opportunities. They've learned how to clean up their online selling presence and make their brand more visible. Some have learned for the first time what a brand really IS.

I daresay we also have a few students whose intent to make a solid business plan, and then, become very serious makers with their eyes on that elusive brass ring. They wish to be jewelry designers, build what they do into a solid sideline business or even their primary business.

There was a time when that was all a dream for me....

I was 29 years old. As you can see, I had a young son to care for, at this time about 8 months old. I was very poor. We lived in a small mobile home out in the country. Being out in the country was our big luxury, for we did have a very large piece of ground and every year I made a wonderful garden.

I was always business-minded, so after toying around with a few secretarial jobs I decided to be my own boss. For eleven years I had a very successful cleaning business. I was a hard worker. I worked on my hands and knees for working women and a few quite wealthy ladies, scrubbing floors....even until I was eight months along in my pregnancy and my blouse also wiped the floor along with my scrub rag. Jordan was a very large baby! LOL But he was with me in my work, even then.

Not very long after he was born....about the time this photo was taken, I began hunting flea markets and yard sales, mostly for things for him. I began to find some things of value and was able to sell them to supplement my meager cleaning income. It wasn't long before Jordan and I were scouring every flea we could on a weekly basis, and I was growing an antiques/collectibles by mail business. Off we'd go, me with a large market basket and him in his stroller.

Eventually I parlayed that income into what eventually became my own designer line of jewelry that in time, sold to over 500 store accounts. We sold about $100,000.00 a year of that jewelry....by no means were we any big shakes in that industry. But I did all the same things that others who WERE big shakes in the industry had to do to sell their lines. I had no one to teach me but some great networking and my gut. I learned as I went along. We lasted doing that for the better part of a decade, I was able to make an income at it, and cleaning was a distant memory.

Jordan was with me every step of the way. He hung out with me in the workshop, did little chores down there, helped me schlep packages to UPS and the post office. The most wonderful thing about it all is that by the time he went to school, I was able to stop cleaning and be there to put him on the school bus every day and be there when he got off. I have no regrets! If for that ALONE, it was all worth it.

By 2001 that line was completely over. I sold off my manufacturing inventory and had already begun to sell supplies. B'sue Boutiques as you might know it now began on the internet even some time before I completely phased out that line. Our first website was in 1997 and we sold basic things for people who were repairing jewelry, mostly. But it wasn't long before I began to really develop us as a supply company. All the things I had learned about old jewelry, all the things I had learned about business and making a line of jewelry sure came in handy!

And along the way, we have had seven stand alone websites, 14 years as powersellers at Ebay, almost five years now at Etsy (I think!) and we are always looking for ways to improve what we do....for you.

Jordan is still quite involved, as you know. He worked for me all through home school (he home-schooled 10-12th grades and finished early) part of the time he went to college for business administration, and here and there as needed when he got his job in the bakery at Giant Eagle, which is a huge grocery chain in these parts. He moved up to managing a fuel store with food service and grocery and worked for 'the big bird' as we call it, for six years.

One day he said, "Mom, it's time for me to come home and help in this business. The bird's not for me, but B'sue Boutiques is."

So he handed in his resignation and we have never looked back, not he, not me.

We are a TEAM, along with his wife Lauren, my best friend Shelley, my niece, Javi, and sometimes here and there her husband, Rob...and Rob's mom, my sister-in-law, Donna (or JewelryDonna which is her brand, she is developing her own line, too!)

Part of the deal for this year's class is that I would be creating a line of jewelry along with the class. It's been a very long time since I have done this; I feel I have the cohesive thing down as I am a designer of many years and my stuff goes a certain way that says B'sue. But...BUILD A LINE???? What WAS I thinking? Was there not enough to keep me up late at night already?

WELL......I did it. The idea came right along; I decided to bring back our old chocolate ox brass and use that. We used to call it choxie! It looks like milk chocolate, no kidding. So, the idea of Sugar Shop Jewelry presented itself. I have even procured the domain name for it. It's a solid idea....

Sugar Shop Jewelry will have several facets, or sub-lines/collections. The first, which I am working on for the class, is called Chocolate Frosting. Are you ready to see that part of the line so far?

TA-DA!

This is by no means all of it, but it is the primary part.....for now. I consider this a practice line; I am still bouncing ideas. I have indeed gotten a sense of direction from the exercise. True to B'sue, it will be a feminine, fussy little line, but not too fussy or too elaborate. I guess the best adjectives are sentimental and pretty.

Some better looks at some of the parts in this part of the Chocolate Frosting sub-line:

That's a variation of my bound-wire charm bracelet....and the parts that pull it together with the rest of the sub-line are the cameos and the choxie brass.

Brooch and earrings and cameo string necklace.....I love this style of necklace and have made myself many. Dunno if I ever made any to sell!

A longer length necklace with mini assemblage on a two-sided puffy heart:

And another, featuring lovely filigree beads and Czech glass in the neckline....

I made a series of brooches for the line as well:

The fussy little brooch in the center is deeply inspired by the line I had in the 90's. One of our most popular pieces was built a bit this way, only the top was engraved.

I don't have the pin backs on yet as it made photo a little easier. I see I need to do some clean-up. The front is ready to go except I see some glue strings that need pulled off, etc. That camera doesn't lie! You'll find it's your best friend when you go to check your work and see if there is anything you've missed!

Here is the back....I have a tiny signature on it but I see some glue bits and a bit of dirt on the back of the old buttons that are part of the base. A little Goo-Gone on a q-tip will make short work of them. After I do the Goo-Gone I will have to do a little alcohol on a swab, and let dry before I glue on the pin back. The trick then is to get enough glue on the pin back, but not make a mess and then, place it just right so that that pinback does not shift as it sets up.

Here are some of the backs of the other pieces, with signatures. I like to do mine by hand.

There is more to this line, though.

I made a lot of earrings, most with the cameos, but some with rosaline Czech glass and some pretty bead drops. So Rosaline is another collection, but still under Chocolate Frosting.

Those cabs are just luminous! I love the way this one came out. I do believe I will keep it!

I still didn't have a statement part to the line, so, I made this parure. It has a color add, so I guess this collection would be Chocolate Frosting with Sprinkles:

I put Chocolate Frosting Mosaic on it, but naaah. Should be 'with sprinkles' because of the color add. I used tiny looped robin's egg blue Czech beads and Czech fire opal stones.

All in all with some earrings I didn't photo, I have over 18 pieces.

Now, I need to spend a bit of time re-checking connections, adding pinbacks and doing that little bit of clean-up. Then it's time make some good photos for selling. I will put it on my regular website just to park it for now.

There is a ferocious mess up here in the office....I made most of it as I binge-watched most of eleven seasons of Frasier on Netflix. Well, during at least the last four seasons. To be honest, I have made most of this stuff this week!

That's why I haven't been on line much. LOL

Anyway.....now that I have this ferocious mess, I also have some more ferocious ideas. I will straighten this place up but I will continue working.

Let's see where this road goes, since I have plenty of things to use up!

And after our May workshop here in Columbiana, Ohio, Jordan and I will sit down and build a solid business plan for Sugar Shop Jewelry.

Or not.

We do have some decisions to make, since our primary business is supply and taking care of other artists' needs....and those needs will not be neglected for jewelry making. First and foremost I have a commitment made to those who come to me for components and assistance....and new ideas! That commitment means everything to us.

Regrettably, I have had to come to the realization that there really are only 24 hours in a day and I should be sleeping at 7-8 of them. Perhaps he and I can figure out a better creative schedule for B'sue.

If nothing else it was a TON of fun and will surely lead to some new videos!

AND NOW.....THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER LINES TO REVEAL! Hop along with me and check out all the other students' work! Below you will find the list of participants and links to their blogs. I surely appreciate their participation in class and all their creativity. Be prepared to be blown away!

If you can, stop for a moment and leave our class members an encouraging comment. It will do much to boost confidence and keep the juices flowing.

January 28, 2016

This class is the result of 28 years in the trade, one form or another, and lots of tough experiences.

The good news is: I learned how to build a line back in the 90's, and eventually I sold it to about 500 store accounts. At one time, the line had 300 pieces. We could never fit them all in a catalog....but this is the cover of the last one we produced in the late 90's.

B'sue Boutiques was originally a little heart's-ease, cute line of gift jewelry that was designed by me and made by myself and 7 artisan helpers....in my basement. It was not a lovely work area, as it is now:

It was really quite rough and I think the way we endured it was that we really loved what we did, and we loved each other. All of us were friends, and a number of the girls who worked with me were Latinas, and it was from them that I really developed my love of their language. I taught them how to make jewelry, and they taught me to speak Spanish....well. I just wish I had some photos of that old workshop to show you. We all fit in there with plenty of space. It was well planned....but so busy, we never thought to take any pictures.

I loved that line of jewelry. One of my favorite things to make was this little pin on one of the pages of that catalog.

PN-38 was our best seller, because you could have it your way, engraved your way, and embellished your way. If you bought 12, we would give you 13....lagniappe. I always have given a little something extra.

The prep was quick and I did all the engraving. Then we would take the orders and make a master for the week, and then check stock because we always tried to have the best sellers made ahead to some extent.

From the master we would see what we didn't have, or what was custom, and get cracking. Each knew what little bits should be put on which theme. All the tiny charms and accents were kept in individual bins for quick finding! And those pearl buttons....we had serious poundage of them. We had them in big boxes all over the place, and we used A LOT of them. They were plentiful; I would advertise in the antiques papers Wanted To Buy and I got all I could ever want, for 6.00 a pound!

That would never happen now!

The challenge was to make those brooches in 15 minutes. Not long ago, I challenged myself to see if I could still do it neatly:

YES! I still can. AND, in under fifteen minutes.

When I planned the 2016 master challenge class, I decided that I would build a line along with the class based on my old line, maybe a reprise of it.

BUT THEN....I thought, no. Not quite. While I may make a few similar pieces, I eventually realized it would be better to do one one just a bit inspired by what I had done over 20 years ago.....and bring it up to speed with some of the tricks I've learned since then.

So: I am still in the planning stages! I do have a theme, though....and a plan of attack. It's been so much fun mapping out this little journey! Here you see my little black worktable that I keep back in my office. (NOTE TO SELF: get a white one! If I want to take pictures on it, they just really don't come out very well!)

You can see my notes there at the top left. Yes, I'm calling my line Sugar Shop (Jewelry).

And I am working on the "Chocolate Frosting" section:

As you can see, I am using Chocolate Brass, which at this time we do not regularly carry at B'sue Boutiques When we did, the sales of it were lukewarm even though I felt I had a better version of it than the other popular chocolate brass lines out on the marketplace, and our prices were certainly more reasonable.

I always loved it though.

Doesn't it just look yummy like a can of frosting? This piece isn't finished yet, though....

You can see I am playing with names....we used to nickname that dark brown finish, Choxie. But I don't think I can really use that on a website, as I think Target used to have a line of chocolates you could buy with that name. But as you can see, it is REALLY chocolate, like deep milk chocolate. Or a can of frosting!

So I am toying with the idea....do I change the chocolate brass up? Do I distress it? Do I add a tiny bit of color? What color?

At this time I am leaning toward Patina color Gilder's Paste....and other little colored bits on the work. Maybe give it the feeling of chocolate frosting with sprinkles!

I tried photographing it on several backgrounds to see what might make it pop.....or make ME pop!

Here again are the parts I am fiddling with now:

Things could change. Until we meet again on this subject at our second hop, which is February 26th....I may have new parts or change this all up.

Sugar Shop Jewelry, however, will remain my theme.

Sugar Shop Jewelry will be a name under the B'sue Boutiques umbrella. And under it, will come various categories:

Chocolate Frosting

Vanilla Frosting

Party Cake

Wedding Cake

Box of Chocolates

Coffee with Cream

....or something like that.

I won't get all of those sub-lines done by the end of this class, but in each line I'd like to have 5-10 key pieces that could be reproduced easily. Vanilla Frosting will be shabby whites. Party Cake will be jewelry to wear to a party! Wedding Cake will be wedding jewelry, Coffee with Cream might be some less fussy casual looks or maybe something literal---coffee and tea charms and motifs on the pieces!

Box of Chocolates will be just like Forest Gump's....you never know what you're gonna get. That is where I will put statement pieces and one-off's that will not be reproduced.

I am still thinking about ideas for a line using our silver.....It will come.

As we go along in the hop, I will let you know more about my plans for my new line, going forward.

It's been a great month! We've built collages of past work and stood back to take a hard look and determine if our styles spoke one voice, and if not, what we could do to tighten up and become more cohesive. We have also talked about our style and identifying----or better still, DISCOVERING our customer! Who is she? WHERE is she?

We've talked about whether our lines are gift lines or fashion lines, or do they straddle both, go either way?

And we've discussed design styles of the past....for inspiration and knowledge! We have talked about famous designers like Chanel, Haskell and Schiaparelli....and the differences between them. We have spoken of Renaissance and Gothic Revival jewelry, Victorian, Edwardian, Civil War style (mid-Victorian), Edwardian, Arts and Crafts Period Jewelry, Jugenstil, Bauhaus, Victorian Revival, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods. We've learned a lot, and many have commented that this part of the class was fun!

The next few weeks will be just as challenging, but for now, why not bring your coffee and come hop with me through the class members' blogs? Here are the participants:

January 18, 2016

There's a whole lotta thinkin' goin' on at the Build a Line Master Class Challenge this year!

We've been working hard to put names on our styles, how to pull them together, how to discover our customer and determine what sort of line we want to make.....

Will it be fashion?

Here is a wonderful high-fashion artisan-made piece from Allison Murray of Bordeaux and Pearl. Allison often shares her work with us at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group

or will their line be a gift line, with personalization such as a stamped saying, something that says something about a person, something that appeals to a person's interests and hobbies?

These interesting pieces are made by artist Renee Hong of Fine and Dandy Jewelry. Renee was a member of our 2015 class.

Or would their pieces be of the type that could straddle both the fashion and gift market? Lovely ad done by Lori Prull Meyer for her line, Parisienne Girl. Lori was also in the 2015 class:

Lori's line has a strong fashion sensibility yet it could be sold handily in an upscale gift shop.

We're going to hear from our 2016 students, shortly. They will be posting the first of a series of three posts for the class, via BLOG HOP, on January 29, 2016

In their first post they will post photos of past work and if they would like, share their studio photos. Some have taken the class before, so they may tell you about last year as opposed to this year and how they plan to take their jewelry designing to the next level.

They will also be teasing you with bits and pieces from the line they hope to make in class, and will discuss their chosen themes.

As always there will be a small gift randomly drawn early in January from among all the participants, and this is a gift for participation. That is what we have always done.

BUT....somewhere toward the end of the week, the B'sue Boutiques Design Team and I will select a winner, sort of like 'best in show'.....the one we feel hit the marks and stood out the most.

WHAT ARE THE "MARKS" ?

1. Mixed Metals Mania is quite 'wide-open'. You can design any sort of jewelry that you want, but we will not accept a single pair of earrings, no matter how over the top, as a submission. Your piece does not have to be elaborate but it needs to be either a STATEMENT PIECE or a SET OF JEWELRY: earrings-brooch earrings-necklace earrings-bracelet, etc.

2. Used mixed plated metals in the composition, and we do need to see the use of products from B'sue Boutiques in your design. You may of course fill in with things from your own stash of mixed media jewelry making goodies, and the items used from B'sue Boutiques do not have to be recent purchases. Mix up silverware silverplate with old rose ox and then, add a touch of gold. Or do gold with brass ox and mix in a little matte black. Matte black is not really a metal shade, but you can ease some in, it's okay. Or go with rusty black and copper for a firey, earthy look!

Here's a little inspiration.....see how good a little bling will look with it? Our lovely Preciosa brand rhinestone chain will do the trick, along with some stones from your stash or our website!

You can also mix in beads, polymer clay, pops of color via stones, so many ways to go. But your piece must feature plated metals.

3. VERY IMPORATANT FOR ALL OUR CHALLENGES....clear photos that are bright and easily seen. Please submit on white backgrounds with little or no staging. For me, this establishes an equal playing field for the judges. None of us will be drawn in because you have staged a lovely, well composed photo. We want to see the PIECE, front and back, perhaps several views....so.....

4. NOT mandatory but highly recommended: sometime during the month, when you finish your composition for the challenge, MAKE A PHOTO COLLAGE of your different views. To learn to make collages fast and easy: http://www.picmonkey.com

Another good photo editor online is Picassa, very popular, but you have to download it.

There are several online services that cater to IPAD and cell phone use, as well. Feel free to ask about it on the Creative Group at Facebook.

5. ONLY ONE SUBMISSION PER ARTIST may be pinned to the Pinterest Challenge Board for this Challenge. If you have more than one, put the others on the regular group board, but select which piece you would like to be JUDGED by putting it on the Challenge Board.

So come and join our group! There is sure to be a lot of inspiring buzz at the Group, there always is.

Please be sure you label your photo and get it pinned before midnight January 2, 2015. I'm going over a couple of days because of the holiday.

The random winner for participation will be announced Sunday, January 3. The judged winner will be selected ASAP the week of January 3. The winner will be announced at the Creative Group at Facebook and also in the B'sue Boutiques newsletter.

The winner of the judged contest wins a lovely gift of B'sue goodies hand-packed by B'sue as well as a 25.00 gift certificate. This will be paid out to the winner via 500 points placed into their account at B'sue Boutiques

500 points is a $25.00 MY REWARDS cash out, so the points will be waiting in their account ready to use with no expiration, no code to remember, whenever they are ready to use them.

Again the judges of this competition are the members of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team and while they may participate by creating a design, as judges they will not be eligible to win.

I know December is a BUSY month, but again: your design doesn't have to be intricate or over the top.

We are looking for innovative, clever, wearable designs and well-lit photos----featuring MIXED METALS.

You might want to begin by thinking about what sort of customer you would want to buy your piece, and then create the piece for that imaginary person. You could develop a whole persona for your 'Muse'. Think about what colors they'd wear, the color of their hair and eyes, their age, their style. Once you have someone real or imaginary in mind.....it could even be a celebrity Muse!....it will be easier to create.

November 11, 2015

This will be the badge design for the Build a Line Challenge, 2016. Thanks to Lomara Internet Solutions/Design for the great branding and for putting together for us (Lynda O'Mara, also a Design Team member).

Photos are from Leila West, Ioulia Kakoulidou, and my own.

Will you be taking part in the challenge this year? I will be limiting it to *about* 30 participants this year besides last year's winner, Susan Bowerman, if she'd like to join us. Also joining us will be some of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team Group

A few alumni will be serving as judges, monitors, mentors but will not be speaking in class except on occasion, and they will not be participating in the day to day activities or the required blog hops.

1. Be sure you have completely reviewed the syllabus and are confident that you can take the class, fully participate, and meet all deadlines.

That's so important, as sadly, those who do not meet the blog hop deadlines outlined in the syllabus post will not be allowed to continue the class. This is a serious class for those who want to move forward in their skills to pull their look and branding together....and see their sales move ahead.

2. First come, first served: Send me an email AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE on Monday, November 16, 2016 to bsue1441@aol.com (Please, NO Facebook Messages or phone calls.....everything goes to my email. I will personally be reviewing all applications). On the application you must state:

your name

your address and phone number

your blog URL, all URL's will be checked for functionality when you apply.

the name of the photo editing program you use and assurance that you know how to use it to make a collage. We will not be learning how to use photo editing programs in this class, although they may come up in discussion with tips for use. You need to be well-acquainted with one NOW.

your theme for the challenge. I will not accept more than TWO students using the same theme, so have an alternate theme you can do, ready. Only five prototype items HAVE to be made for the class, but they must all be done inside YOUR THEME.

You do need to use *some* products from B'sue Boutiques in the designs you make...visibily. Jump rings or little crystals or clasps don't count. This is because the class is sponsored by B'sue Boutiques and one of the reasons I can offer such an extensive 3+ month class at such a low fee. You also may use your own techniques, twists on product, colorizing products and other items you may have on hand.

Your payment information for PayPal so that we can bill you for the class. If you want to use a credit card to pay for the class, say so in the application so that we can make arrangements to get your payment. Payments must be finalized inside 48 hours of acceptance to keep your spot in the class. 95.00 for new students, 60.00 for alumni.

Things you will need for the class (besides a blog, a photo editing program, and your materials for your prototype line):

---a journal

---a subscription to or recent copies of VOGUE magazine

---a review of the movie, The Devil Wears Prada (sounds silly? Maybe. But I'm not kidding. It's more truth than fiction.)

---an open mind, a willingness to work, be ready to rock your design world!

If you have any questions about the class, feel free to write me now, I will be happy to hear from you!

We will have a clickable version of the BALC (Build a Line Challenge) badge for you to display on your blogs, websites and Facebook pages soon. All students in the class will want to freely advertise the class and that they have been accepted.

Friends of the class (supporters, alumni, Creative Group members, pals of B'sue!) who would like to display the badge, let me thank you in advance.

August 09, 2015

All of us, or most of us, tend to have workspaces, sometimes numerous ones! where work is being accomplished but there's also a lot of wheel-spinning happening, as well.

We want to discipline ourselves but we need a solid creative nudge...or kick in the pants.

Over a year ago, Judy Jones King came in the cyber door at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group and said, hey, there seems to be a lot of goofing around in here....or something to that effect. All said in good humor, whatever it was, I assure you.

But the next thing was, grab your camera, share what's on your work table! We had a ton of group participation and EVERYONE loved it.

That was the FIRST Work Table Wednesday.

Soon after that, Marcia Tuzzolino and Judy seemed to simultaneously---if I can recall properly!--come up with the idea that SOMETHING on that table ought to be done and finished and ready to sell by Friday.

And so was born FINISHED UP FRIDAY, or as we affectionately call it, FUF.

There you go!

For nearly a year Marcia and Judy alternately sponsored a monthly prize for FUF. They'd count the names of the participants who had submitted photos to our FUF Pinterest board within that month, do the number generator thing and award a 25.00 gift certificate to one of their peers.

Eventually we extended the deadline to Saturday and pix could be loaded either by Friday or Saturday, and had to be dated. It was only fair; some of our peeps have day jobs or kids to tend or caregiving jobs to do. So an extra day made sense.

For a FULL YEAR Marcia and Judy did this, giving this gift from their own pockets and then we concentrated on the weekly giftie for Work Table Wednesday, which I was always responsible for....and here and there I'd randomly give one for FUF.

Well here is an announcement:

I'd like to see FUF pick up and have a few more pinners/participants. I love to showcase the beautiful work done with products from B'sue Boutiques and call out the designers' shops if I know their name. Whatever I can do to help promote YOU and YOUR work with our goods, I want very much to do.

SO....FIRST. CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE:

Marcia and Judy, just as an acknowledgement of your contributions, I have a 25.00 free gift pass for each of you. I will send you both a code. PLEASE ENJOY. It's not enough to pay you back for all you have done for this group, but it's an acknowledgment of the fine work you have done for us. (Marcia and Judy are also members of the B'sue Boutiques Design Team)

SECOND.....This week is the first week of WEEKLY GIFTIES for participation in the FUF arrangement. I counted our participants this week and the winner is BEV SEDY.

Bev, I will be sending you a personally chosen and gift-wrapped GIFTIE from B'sue to you. something I know you will love!

On Fridays and Saturdays, show us things you have finished up that week, preferably from your messy Work Table Wednesday tables.

All items pinned must include at least a few visible items from B'sue Boutiques but it can be any sort of mixed media style jewelry, beadwork, metalwork, assemblage, etc that you like.

Many have said that even though it's not possible for everyone to submit something every week (although I think we have a few who have, I believe Harry Wood has!) the FUF challenge gives them impetus and a desire to get good quality projects done and then, loaded to their Etsy and other artisan shops.

Many times it pays off right away in a quick sale!

And now, it will pay off with a weekly GIFTIE from B'sue. BE SURE you date your pinned photos! I can only include pinned photos!

July 16, 2015

Now, for every dollar you spend at B'sue Boutiques Vintage Jewelry Supplies website, you get a credit that will add up to a cash reward!

I will try and explain how it works as simply as possible:

First, the site automatically gives you ONE POINT for every dollar spent. This automatically goes into your customer account.

You can easily track the points by logging into your account at B'sue Boutiques and then go to the bottom of your account dashboard where it says MY REWARDS.

You'll see, when you click on it to view it, that it says

Available points

Pending points

Next to available points, it will tell you what is accessible to you RIGHT NOW.

In pending, it will show you points perhaps on a recent order, that have not quite cleared into your account, but WILL, as soon as your order is shipped and marked COMPLETE.

Don't be 'thrown' by the little box that says 500 with the REDEEM NOW button next to it. This is just a little reminder that you must have accrued 500 points to cash in and get a reward (which will be money off your next order!)

So again, ONE DOLLAR SPENT = ONE POINT. You can't cash them out til you reach 500. But at that time, your 500 points are worth a 25.00 cash reward, which will be money taken off your order!

Here is a screenshot of instructions on how to cash out your points when you have enough:

We were still working on it a little last night....the first highlighted field should say IMMEDIATELY as soon as the points become available (last order marked shipped/complete by us). And again, one dollar = one point.

You don't HAVE to cash them out at 500, either. THESE POINTS DO NOT EXPIRE. You can let them build, if you like. For example, 1,000 points would get you a 50.00 cash reward!

Also, if you have over 500 you don't have to use them all at once, if you don't want to.

Points accrue on the SUBTOTAL of your order. This is after savings coupons come off, and shipping fees do not count for points, either. So for example....let's say your order was 100.00

The site would give you 10% off, which is about 10.00

Let's say you added on the FIVEBUCKS coupon for being over fifty. (You may add ONE coupon on any standard order).

That's another 5.00

Should bring your SUBTOTAL to 85.00 spent. This means you'd get 85 points on that order!

Points accrue only on full dollars and they don't round up. So if say, your subtotal was 85.65, your points would still be 85.

Remember your points don't appear as available until your order is marked shipped/complete on this end, which is usually 1-3 days.

YOUR POINTS DO NOT EXPIRE.

To get the points.....be SURE to go to your MY REWARDS and CASH THEM OUT .....***before*** you put anything in your cart and begin shopping, if you want to use them.

Once you cash out, they will come off the NEXT order you place. You don't have to enter a code or anything. They will just queue up in your account ONCE YOU CASH THEM OUT.....and they will automatically come off the next order in the amount they are worth.

SO just log in to your account and begin watching for those points to build up. When you hit 500 or more, click the REDEEM NOW button, when you are ready to use them. Then they will go on the VERY NEXT order you place.

Remember, you are the one who must track them and you are the one who must cash them out. We can't do that for you.

NOTE: if your order is large enough to get a 10% site volume discount and free US shipping, you'll get that even when you use the cash gift reward. You would also qualify for any FREE STUFF or free promotional item for orders of a certain size, too.

BUT: we cannot honor coupons stacked on with gift rewards.

And, the amount of cash reward on your order will come off just like a coupon does, so it does not apply toward more points.

The MY REWARDS program simply replaces the very large giveaways we have been doing for quite sometime for weekly customers. We will have a small, fun giveaway via random drawing for customers at the site most weeks (that's always announced in the Sunday newsletter and at the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group), and on special occasions we may have a large one---or! we might even multiply the value of the points on your orders for a special day or period of time.

You can take advantage of all our special deals, sales, coupons and discounts all the way down the line as you also continue earning cash reward points on your order subtotal!

EVERYONE gets a present! No matter how large or small their order is. It may not come wrapped up in a random box like this....

But EVERYONE who shops with us will eventually amass enough credits to get something special, something they can CHOOSE for THEMSELVES, according to their own needs. This is far better than awarding one customer a week the whole MOTHERLODE! ....and then maybe, the stuff we chose they already have a lot of or it's stuff they really don't want or need......and only ONE customer that week getting ALL of it...

This program allows us to reward and **thank** EVERYONE for choosing B'sue Boutiques as their source for highest quality jewelry findings, vintage jewelry supplies, and goods to make mixed media jewelry.

As always THANK YOU SO MUCH for choosing us.

We treasure the constant support of so many loyal customers over the many years we have been in business. We just want to make it better and better for you....to inspire you, support you, and offer you great supplies at excellent prices!

Micheale loves to shop with us for her vintage jewelry supplies. We ferret out lots of great bits and pieces, many with a long history in jewelry history. That's why they are PERFECT to use for reproduction style jewelry, theatrical jewelry, even runway pieces!

Now here is a thought for Micheale and everyone else who is looking for a new niche to sell the things they make:

Why not contact your local theatrical groups, both little theater as well as school and college groups! and ask them if they need jewelry for their productions.

In most cases, they will not have a budget that allows them to pay you for the jewelry you make for the production. The key is the door it can open for you:

In exchange, ask for a free advertising spot in the program calling out that you made the jewelry for the play, and your contact info.

ALSO, it may be possible for you or a helper to set up a table in the lobby of the theater to display the jewelry you made for the show and SELL SOME as souvenirs of the evening out!

This can also lead you in many other directions.....home parties, custom work, even bridal jewelry. Have a flyer or brochure made. Get your name out there in your community!

In exchange for a few pieces of jewelry you may find a whole new outlet that's not going to cost you big show fees, set ups, and will help you reach a whole NEW clientele who will be thrilled to buy, enjoy and tell their friends about your work!

I hope Micheale will consider doing that, going forward, with her own theater group! She is always busy with a new design. This is one of her photos from Work Table Wednesday at the Creative Group

To learn more about Work Table Wednesday, why not check out our WTW Pinterest Board?